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REPORT 




HEALTH OFFICER 



ST. LOUS BOA 111) OF HEALTH, 



TEXAS CATTLE DISEASE 



December 1st, 1868. 




ST. LOUIS: 

MISSOURI DEMOCRAT BOOK AM) JOB PRINTING HOUSE 

1868. 







REPORT 



HEALTH OFFICER 



ST. LOUIS BOARD OF 



TEXAS CATTLE DISEASE 



December 1st, 1868, 




ST. LOUIS: 

MISSOURI DEMOCRAT BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE. 

1868. 



REPORT 



St. Louis, December 1, 1868. 
To the Honorable the Board of Health : 

Gentlemen — Although my resignation as Health Officer to the 
City of St. Louis has been tendered, and accepted by your honorable 
body (September 17), I feel that I still owe a duty in presenting to 
the Board some general report on that most important question, 
" the cuttle disease" the investigation of which came within my 
province while acting in the above capacity. I accordingly have 
the honor to transmit to you the following, embracing all points of 
interest found by me in said examination. 

On August 18th I was directed by your honorable Board to 
proceed to an investigation of a disease affecting cattle within and 
around the city. In furtherance of the object of the Board, power 
was' delegated me to employ whatever professional aid was needed. 
I accordingly engaged the assistance of Dr. T. F. Prewitt in hold- 
ing post-mortem examinations, and of Dr. Gust. Baumgarten as 
microscopist. Their reports are appended, marked A. and B. 

The first appearance of a markedly fatal disease was in a large 
dairy, a few miles beyond the city limits, about the second week in 
June. It was confined to some forty or fifty head of stock, just 
then purchased from Illinois, and nearly the whole number perished 
in a few days. By segregation of the sick, and the free use of 
carbolic acid, after some two weeks the disease disappeared. From 
information given to me, the malady did not attack any cows except 
the stock from Illinois, although for some days after its advent no 
means w r ere taken to guard against contagion. The symptoms, as 
detailed to me, were unsatisfactory. The cows were apparently 
well in the morning and dead at night. No regular noting of 
symptoms seems to have been carried out, but all the employees 
united in saying that it was a fearfully rapid and fatal disease. 



4 REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

About July 1st it was noticed that a fatal disease was making its 
appearance among the milch cows within and immediately around 
the city. A gradual increase was observed, until, at the time the 
investigation was ordered, some sixty cows were dying weekly. No 
connection, however, could be traced between it and that which had 
prevailed at the dairy above mentioned. The dairy was so far from 
the city limits that no contact between the cows could have taken 
place ; and it was reasonable to conclude that, if the diseases were 
the same, they were due to the same general causes, and not to 
contagion. 

At the time this investigation was ordered, considerable excite- 
ment existed in both the East and West in regard to a disease 
among cattle ; and consequently, the first point aimed at in the 
examination was the past as well as present condition of our stock- 
yards. These were found in a good and healthy condition, and, 
from the best information I could gain, no disease prevailed among 
the stock arriving and departing sufficient to warrant notice. Some 
animals had died and had been removed from the yards, but there 
had been nothing simulating an epidemic. Some died from injuries 
received in shipping, others from a surfeit of food after a long 
abstinence, while a few had died from a disease whose nature was 
unknown; but the latter were very few. During the whole of the 
summer no disease existed at any of our stock -yards similar in 
virulence or in extensiveness to that which prevailed at the New 
York yards, or other Eastern and some Western yards. I can state 
positively that after the 15th of August no disease appeared, as 
from that date to the loth of September the yards were directly 
under the supervision of the Chief of Meat Inspectors and myself. 
Previous to that time the Chief or his deputies had visited each 
of the yards daily, and their reports indicated the usual healthy 
condition. 

Our disease, whatever was its nature, was found to be confined 
exclusively to milch cows, of which from forty to sixty dead were 
reported per week, and the men and wagons of the contractors for 
their removal were busy night and day. Although many dairies, 
large and small, were scattered over the city, there was no extensive 
prevalence of the disease in any one. The dead were reported at 
various places — on streets and alleys, on the open prairies, and 
occasionally in stables and dairies. In some instances three or four 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 5 

cows were removed, in the course of ten days or three weeks, from 
a few dairies, yet the vast majority of the dead were found isolated. 
The whole city was not equally affected ; the extreme north and south 
were unaffected, the whole number of cows dying being confined to 
the central portion, from Eighth or Tenth streets, running west and 
beyond the city limits about a half mile. This was the second point 
gained in the investigation : the disease was confined to a certain 
district, beyond which it did not extend; that within this district 
animals were affected either singly or in small groups. 

Desiring to have as much material as possible upon which to 
operate during the investigation, and material in the best possible 
form for experiments, I took occasion to issue numerous copies of 
the resolutions passed by your honorable Board regarding sick cattle. 
These resolutions, in substance, requested all owners of sick cows to 
report the fact at the office of the Board of Health as soon as dis- 
covered. They were printed both in English and German, and 
distributed by handbills everywhere throughout the city. I expected 
the most ample material from this course, but I am sorry to report 
that my efforts were misinterpreted and misunderstood, and in con- 
sequence but few cases of sick were reported. Those engaged 
in selling milk were fearful that if any sick were reported among 
their stock their whole supply of milk would be confiscated and a 
prohibition passed against a continuance of their business. The 
owners also of private cows showed no disposition to have the 
disease investigated by reporting cases as they occurred, and thus 
seconding the efforts of the Health Officer. By the efforts of the 
Sanitary Ward Police — who were directed to visit daily all dairies 
or cow-stables within their respective districts, and report sick 
animals at this office — a sufficient number was obtained to study 
the disease in the living, although not to the extent that I wished. 
The communicability of the disease from the sick to the well was 
not so thoroughly studied as to lead me to form authoritative opin- 
ions on the subject, as no experiments were employed to prove or 
disprove this point. Consequently, whatever opinions I may enter- 
tain and report to you on this point were formed not from direct 
experiment, but from general observation. 

From a history of the progress of the disease, as it was gained 
by careful investigation, the first evidence of the epidemic was 
shown in the vicinity of the Pacific stock-yards. From this point 



6 REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

it seemed to have gradually extended itself until it embraced the 
locality above mentioned; and even when the disease prevailed to 
the greatest extent, the greater number of cases still occurred in a 
semi-circle of eighteen or twenty blocks around the yards. The 
country surrounding the city was as healthy as usual. From exten- 
sive examinations and inquiries, I could find no evidence of a 
prevailing disease, or any propagation of the epidemic into the 
country. Both to the north and south of the city there were many 
dairies, often kept in a bad sanitary condition, yet they were free 
from disease. 

Many circumstances seemed to point to contagion as the means 
of spreading, and the idea was continually before me until I found 
what I conceived to be good grounds for abandoning it. In all the 
cases of sick animals reported, and all dead ones when the owners 
could be found, a thorough examination was made into the surround- 
ings of the animals — their food, water, stabling, general attention, 
cleanliness, etc. There was but one circumstance in which all 
agreed, viz : that all cows affected were permitted to run at large 
during the day, and housed only at night. There was no exception 
to this in all the cases coming under my observation. 

It may be well to state that in the western portion of the city 
population is scanty, and large tracts of land are in open prairie. 
During the summer a plentiful crop of grass springs from these 
places, and furnishes food not only to cows, but horses and goats. 
Many dairies are scattered over this region ; a few large, but the 
great majority small — from two to eight cows each. Many of the 
families keeping the smaller number are poor, and aid considerably 
in paying expenses by selling milk. It is a consideration with them 
• to save as much feed as possible ; and thus during the whole summer 
their cows run at large and gather good sustenance from the open 
prairies. It is thus that the prairies become the feeding-ground for 
large numbers of cows, gathered principally from the central portion 
of the city. 

In no instance did I find the disease attacking cows that were kept 
up during the summer or permitted to run in their own pastures. 
Cases came under my observation of animals that had been confined 
to the ; r stables remaining perfectly healthy, although others occu- 
pying adjoining stables, but permitted to run out during the day, 
were attacked and died by the disease. So, also, in the outskirts 



ON THE UATTLE DISEASE. 7 

of the city, where cows in numbers were dying around, small dairies, 
or individual animals that had private or inclosed pastures, remained 
perfectly well. 

These facts pointed to a germ of infection procurable in some 
manner in the daily walks of the animals. What was this germ, 
and in what manner were the animals infected? The suburbs of 
the city — the pastures frequented by the animals — were in all 
respects the same that they had been the year previous. The grass 
was as well grown and the water as pure. Where was the difference 
sufficient to cause a reasonable deduction ? I was unable to detect 
any difference, except that these pastures and the roads and streets 
passing through them had been traversed frequently by herds of 
Texas cattle. 

As explanatory, I may remark that the great entrepot for Texas 
cattle, from which they are shipped East or sold to traders here, is 
the Pacific stock-yards. These are located just within the western 
city limits, and about midway between the northern and southern 
boundaries. From this point they are driven in herds through the 
city to the river, to be shipped by railroad from the Illinois shore, 
or distributed to other stock-yards to which they may have been 
assigned for sale. The latter yards are situated near the river, 
some to the north and others to the south of the Pacific yards, and 
to reach them the herds must pass through a good portion of the 
city. The line of transit necessarily pursued by these herds is, for 
many reasons, as much as possible through the least-inhabited por- 
tions of the city. Thus they are thrown, in passing to the Broadway 
yards particularly, through those western outskirts of the city where 
numbers of cows owned in the city proper are accustomed to graze. 
Furthermore, scattered around the Pacific yards and extending to 
the west are numerous large inclosures used as resting and feeding 
places for the cattle in transit. Some of these are at a distance of 
one-half to three-quarters of a mile from the receiving yards, and 
numerous spots of grass on either side of the route are open and 
frequented by cows from the city. The passage to and from these 
yards constitutes another track of infection. 

Looking, then, at the position occupied by the Pacific yards — the 
center of the infected district — and the tracks of infection leading 
from them through that portion of the city to which the mortality 
seemed to be almost exclusively confined, the deduction is reasona- 



» REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

ble, I think, that the mysterious poison left on the trail or in the 
pastures visited by Texas cattle was the source of the disease pre- 
vailing among our milch cows. 

MORBID LESIONS. 

The whole number of post-mortem examinations made by me 
was fourteen, from which number I selected portions of different 
organs of the best-preserved cases, and forwarded them to Dr. 
Baumgarten for his examination. For his results I refer you to 
his report, marked B. 

It is to be regretted that the only cases examined, except one, 
were at the rendering establishment of Messrs. Busby & O'Neil, as 
all animals there were more or less advanced in decomposition. 
The weather was so hot that in twelve or fourteen hours after death 
signs of decomposition were always present in the animals. But 
as persons objected to having the bodies of their dead animals 
opened on their premises, the rendering establishment offered the 
only available place where such examinations could take place. 
Those in which putrefactive changes had taken place to much extent 
were not examined, or simply opened. Those in which the least 
changes were perceived were reserved and examined, with the fol- 
lowing result : 

Upon the removal of the skin there was nothing very remarkable 
to be observed in the subcutaneous or muscular tissue. The latter 
preserved the natural red color of muscular tissue. The former 
in many cases contained large spots in which hypostatic congestion 
had taken place, the blood-vessels being filled to repletion with dark 
venous blood, partially coagulated. The position usually occupied 
was one or other side, extending from the head to the flank. This 
was evidently the result of gravitation, and the side affected was that 
on which the animal died. The fatty tissue in the majority of cases 
was normal, yet in a few a tinge of deep canary-color was perceived. 

From the conversation of two gentlemen who had witnessed post- 
mortem examinations of what was called "Texas fever," as it 
appeared in a herd of native cattle here some six years ago, I 
learned that the animal always presented an exsanguine appear- 
ance. There was not only less blood in the carcass, but that found 
was thin and watery, scarcely so much colored as to soil the hands. 
The opposite condition was presented in all the post-mortem exam- 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 9 

inations made by me. The animal was always full of dark and 
partially-coagulated blood, shown not only in the spots of conges- 
tion in the subcutaneous tissue, but every internal organ presented 
a greater or less portion in the same condition ; and it was an easy 
matter to decide from the lungs alone on which side the animal was 
lying just before and after death. 

LUNGS. 

I found no indication of true pneumonia. In some cases both 
lungs were a mass of disorganized tissue, filled from base to apex 
with blood, yet floating in water, softened, and the lobules so sepa- 
rated that they stood apart like a bunch of grapes. In other cases 
the engorgement was not so universal — a part, and often but a 
small part, of the lungs being in this condition. In such cases the 
lungs generally contained less air than normal, and were of a darker 
hue, often grayish and mottled, with here and there spots of ecchy- 
mosis varying in size from a pin-head to a split pea. Upon incising, 
a thin, bloody and frothy liquid exuded, but no true solidification 
was found in any case. No change was observed in the bronchial 
mucous membrane. The pleurae were natural, no signs of inflam- 
mation being perceived in any case. In a few cases serum to the 
amount of several ounces was present in the cavity. 

H E A R T . 

Within the pericardium there was most frequently a small amount 
of serum, but the membrane was smooth and apparently perfectly 
normal. Tissue of the heart unchanged, except a less degree of 
firmness, though not to an extent to which the term "softening" 
would be applicable. The left side of the heart was uniformly 
empty, while the right side was as uniformly filled with partially- 
coagulated blood — the coagula sometimes filling the vessels leading 
from the right ventricle to the extent of six or seven inches in 
length. 

BRAIN. 

Iii three instances the brain was affected. The vessels of the pia 
mater were congested and enlarged, and on cutting into the sub- 
stance of the brain numerous red points indicated the position of 
the vessels. There was no exudation on any portion of the serous 
membrane, and no effusion of serum. 



iO REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

The esophagus, first, second, and third stomachs, were healthy. 
In many cases the food contained in the latter (for they were never 
empty) was dryer than normal, but no other change was perceived. 
The true stomach was particularly examined in three cases. In these 
it was found reddened, more or less profusely studded with ecehy- 
moses, and with one to three small, irregularly- shaped spots of 
erosion, situated more particularly about or near the pyloric orifice. 
The intestines, both small and large, presented nothing unusual 
beyond the scattered spots of ecchymosis. 

SPLEEN. 

The spleen was always and markedly enlarged, its surface smooth 
and dotted with numberless minute white dots. It was of a dark -red 
color, exceedingly soft, and an incision into its substance showed 
nothing but a mass of bloody pulp that the slightest pressure would 
force out in a jelly-like mass. Of all the organs, the spleen was 
the only one invariably altered, and to the eye the morbid changes 
seemed always of the same character, although a difference existed 
as to the stage of advancement. 

LIVER. 

In milch cows, and indeed in cattle generally, the liver is often 
found with evidences of disease in its structure, although the animal 
may have enjoyed good health. The usual surroundings of dairy 
cows, within the limits of a large city, are such as to provoke the 
occurrence of disease in this organ, and consequently it is rare to 
find a healthy liver among them. I do not think that, in the cases 
examined by me, a natural and healthy condition of this organ was 
found in a single instance. Many of the lesions were old, a few 
were recent, but all depended either directly or remotely on inflam- 
mation. These lesions affected parts of the organ, and were not 
of sufficient magnitude to destroy life. Those that seemed to be 
connected with the epidemic affected the color and consistency of 
the organ. The color varied from a grayish to a bistre brown, 
and pervaded the whole organ uniformly. The peritoneal coat 
was smooth and shining. The parenchyma was much softened, 
the finger readily passing through it. These alterations in con- 
sistency and color were not due, in my opinion, to post-mortem 
changes, as other cases were examined in which these changes were 
not present, although decomposition had progressed to a greater 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 11 

degree. The gall-bladder was usually full to repletion of a green- 
ish-brown liquid ; its coats normal. 

With one exception, the kidneys were found materially changed. 
They were deeply congested, of a dark mahogany color — some- 
times of a prune-juice color — soft and friable In some the soft- 
ening had progressed so far that the organs were like masses of 
plum-jelly, and structureless — a condition increased, no doubt, by 
post-mortem changes. In others the consistency was but little less 
than natural, but they also presented a darker hue than normal, 
and hyperaemic to a marked degree. The ureters were unaltered. 
The bladder occasionally presented spots of ecchymosis here and 
there over the mucous coat, but otherwise it was unchanged. It was 
always filled, sometimes almost to bursting, with a dark-red or 
bloody clear urine. 

The post-mortem of cow No. 5 ( Dr. Baumgarten's report ) I 
made in connection with Prof. Gamgee, of London, who had been 
for some weeks investigating the disease in Illinois and Kansas. 
The cow was killed by bleeding, and the examination immediately 
made. This was the only case examined by me in which the kid- 
neys — to the eye — were unaltered. They seemed to be so healthy, 
indeed, that, taken in connection with the clear and normal appear- 
ance of the urine, I forwarded no specimen to Dr. Baumgarten for 
his examination. I regret this now. as his examination of the urine 
(a specimen of which was sent) showed the presence of a few tube 
casts and albumen. 

The lungs were found normal in color, but marked freely and 
irregularly by ecchymoses. The interlobular tissue was emphysema- 
tous to a slight degree, more particularly in the posterior lobe of 
the right lung, which also contained less air in the cells than normal. 
It was on this side that the animal had been lying for some hours 
previous to her death. 

The heart was normal, except some blood-spots on the endocar- 
dium. The alimentary tract was also normal, except the fourth 
stomach, which was somewhat reddened and ecchymosed ; and near 
the pyloric orifice three or four small patches of erosion were found 
The liver was enlarged, but otherwise healthy, except from the pres- 
ence of numerous spots of fatty degeneration — an old condition. 

The spleen was very much enlarged, much darker than normal, 
very soft, and dotted with numerous minute white spots beneath the 



12 REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

serous covering. The kidneys seemed perfectly healthy ; and the 
urine was clear and but little darker than natural. 

The brain was congested throughout ; the veins of the pia mater 
were full ; and a section of the substance showed very fairly the 
"sanded" appearance found in inflammation — slight effusion, but 
no exudation. 

In this case death might have taken place from the lesions found 
in the brain, but in no other organ was there present sufficient dis- 
organization to have produced a fatal result. 

S Y M P T O M S . 

The symptoms presented by the sick were not always uniform ; 
that is, there was no regular train of symptoms appearing in each 
case. Indeed, in some there was little to be observed, and in others 
the disease proved so rapid that the animals seemed struck down at 
once, and never rose again. I am not able to give a description of 
the various symptoms from a personal observation of many cases. 
A few I saw before death ; but owing to the difficulties I encoun- 
tered, and the reluctance of owners to report the sick, the best I 
could do in many cases was to visit the owner, after the death of 
the animal, and learn from him the most prominent symptoms pre- 
sented. This, in connection with what I observed myself, is the 
basis of the following description : 

The first symptom observed is a loss of appetite and a diminution 
in the flow of milk. The animal becomes listless, and shows a 
reluctance to moving about; and, when moving, goes slowly, not 
apparently from pain, but from debility. Her ears droop, her head 
hangs down, and her eyes lose their natural lustre, presenting a 
stupid, dull, sick expression. The pulse is usually small and fre- 
quent. The temperature, in all cases in which I used the thermom- 
eter, was always high, ranging from 102° to 103°. The bowels 
are frequently constipated, although not always, and the urine is 
dark-colored or bloody, and free. This stage may continue two or 
three days before other and more marked symptoms present them- 
selves. In one case six days elapsed, the animal presenting nothing 
to be particularly observed other than that just related. In other 
cases a few hours only is sufficient to develop more characteristic 
symptons, that are rapidly followed by death. The gait gradually 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 13 

becomes more uncertain and tottering, with a dragging of the hind 
legs ; the animal shows a disposition to lie down, and when once 
down, it is difficult to make her rise again. The urine, if not 
already bloody, becomes so, and is voided less freely and easily. 
The temperature of the body rises — most frequently reaching 107°, 
and in some cases as high as 112°. The pulse becomes quickened 
and more feeble, often imperceptible in the extremities ; the respi- 
rations rapid ; the urine ceases to pass ; and, by position and move- 
ments, the animal shows evidences of intense prostration. In many 
cases nothing more was observed, death soon taking place. 

In others — with the symptoms of depression, increased tempera- 
ture,, constipated bowels, and bloody urine — marked frequency of 
respiration, with a very slight cough, was observed, along with a 
rapid and feeble pulse. The cow, when made to rise, would knuckle 
over on both hind-fetlocks, and stand with depressed head, drooping 
ears, arched back, hollow flank, and hind-legs drawn under her, with 
a tremulous jerking of the muscles of the flanks and thighs. She 
would soon lie down again; respiration more rapid, pulse more feeble 
and fluttering until her death, which soon came. 

In still others, during the latter stage, respirations are less fre- 
quent than in health, often slow and deep ; the pulse is rapid, the 
head, horns, and ears are hot; and while tying, the head is stretched 
backward as far as she can get it, and fixed in that position. In 
these cases it is said that convulsions often appear, but I have never 
seen them take place. The animal, under my observation, seems 
rather to sink into a more or less complete comatose condition, in 
which she dies. The constipated bowels, though a frequent condi- 
tion, did not always exist, and the dejections presented no abnormal 
appearance. The bloody urine, with arched back, hollow flank, and 
knuckling over on both hind-fetlocks, were the most characteristic 
symptoms and the most usual, together with depression, feeble pulse, 
and high temperature. In them the kidneys were afterward found 
markedly changed. Some cases proved very rapidly fatal, with few 
or none of these symptoms, and in these the kidneys were found 
less affected, but the .lungs were more or less engorged, the heart 
was in a softer condition than normal, or the liver was altered in 
color or consistency. In all cases Avhere stupor or a semi-comatose 
condition existed, with hot horns and ears, the brain was found 
congested. 



14 REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

These were the symptoms that were presented under my observa- 
tion, or were gathered from a cross-examination of the owners. It 
is probable that a more extended observation than I enjoyed would 
have revealed others. Sufficient, however, has been presented to 
characterize the disease. 

NATURE OF THE DISEASE. 

This portion of the subject I approach with great reluctance, as I 
have nothing beyond bare hypothesis or conjecture to offer. I have 
thus far presented facts, or what I believe to be facts, viewed with- 
out bias or preconceived ideas. It would be indeed remarkable if, 
in the narrow limits of my observation, an explanation of the mys- 
teries attendant on this disease could have been found. I have found 
none, and consequently have none to report. The interest attached 
to the disease as it appeared in various parts of the country, culmi- 
nating in the efforts of several distinguished and scientific gentlemen 
to study it, will result in many reports on the subject, showing the 
course, symptoms, and morbid changes observed within the respect- 
ive localities of the different observers. It is only from a careful 
analysis of these various reports, from a comparison of the facts 
observed in all that relates to the disease, that any true deductions 
can be made as to its nature and cause. No individual report can 
succeed in making deductions that will stand the test of time. In- 
deed, the narrow 7 limits of observation in the power of any single 
individual would detract much from the theories advanced. I there- 
fore simply offer, through your honorable Board, the foregoing to 
add to the many reports at present being prepared, as a contribution 
to the general fund. It is a description of the disease as it prevailed 
in our city, and as such can be used to compare with the disease as 
it prevailed elsewhere. 

Hitherto there has been but little literature on the subject. The 
present year is the first in which regular and systematic efforts have 
been made to comprehend the laws and nature of the disease. Long 
complained of through the Southwest, with laws in operation to 
curtail or prevent the supposed origin, no positive knowledge has 
ever been presented as to the poison that is supposed to infect the 
native stock. I trust sincerely that the present extended series of 
observations, the thorough sifting of the testimony offered, and the 
use of the many valuable adjuncts to medical research at present in 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 15 

use, may result in the discovery not only of the laws govern- 
ing the disease, but its nature and the means of prevention or 
mitigation. 

In conclusion, permit me to offer the following as my present 
convictions : 

1. The disease is a non-contagious zymotic fever, with an incu- 
bative period of from ten to twenty days. 

2. That the germ exists among Texas cattle, not per se, but 
developed similarly to "crowd poison" in man, by scanty food, 
continued exertion, close crowding, animal exhalations, and the 
usual concomitants of large masses of animals in transit. 

3. That the germ is inoperative in the systems of the Texas 
cattle — owing to what cause I cannot surmise — but is highly 
poisonous to native cattle, or Texas cattle acclimated here by a 
residence over winter. 

4. That close proximity is not sufficient to infect the native cat- 
tle, but actual contact with some of the excretions of the Texas 
cattle is necessary. The occupation of pens, boats, or stables 
previously used by them may be sufficient, but the co- or after- 
occupancy of pastures, or mingling with them in their route, will 
certainly infect native stock. 

5. That the period of time during which the poison remains 
active is unknown, beyond the fact that severe cold destroys it 
effectually. 

6. That the blood of the infected animals is primarily affected 
and its vitality soon destroyed ; and that, secondarily, the spleen, 
kidneys, and liver become diseased, either through ineffectual efforts 
to eliminate or alter the poison, or through a stasis of the blood in 
their structure, owing to its diminished vitality. 

7. Pathological evidence, particularly the microscopical condi- 
tion of the fibers of the heart, points to the continued presence of 
a depressing agent in the blood, whether that agent be the zymotic 
germ itself circulating, or the continued influence of a low grade of 
morphological changes. 



16 REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

8. That native cattle, although dying from the disease, do not 
infect other native cattle, either by actual contact or by the influence 
of the secretions. 

9. That the remedies known to have anti-zymotic powers are the 
only ones possessing any influence over the disease. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JAMES W. CLEMENS, M.D., 

Late Health Officer. 



(.A.) 

St. Louis, October 25, 1868. 
Dr. J. W. Clemens, Health Officer: 

Sir — In accordance with your request, I visited, on different 
occasions, the factory for dead animals beyond Cheltenham, with 
the view of ascertaining by post-mortem what pathological changes 
characterized the disease proving so fatal among the cows of the 
dairies in and about the city, and respectfully submit the following 
report. 

Aside from the fact that no history of the case was known from 
the time the animals were attacked with disease until death, a 
considerable lime usually elapsed between the occurrence of death 
and the delivery of the carcasses at the factory. I have had an 
opportunity of examining eight dead animals. In none of these 
was there any record of the time of death, and it could only be 
conjectured from the appearance of the body and the progress of 
decomposition. In some of these the changes in the organs exam- 
ined were so considerable as to present some difficulty in determining 
what was pathological and what post-mortem. The condition of 
the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys, as also the peritoneum and 
pleura, was examined in all. In one the brain was examined; and 
in one, in which the post-mortem changes were not such as to ren- 
der it useless, the mucous membrane of the true stomach, intestines, 
and bladder. In five the animals had been dead long enough for 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 17 

considerable post-mortem changes to have occurred. In these there 
was the most marked alteration in structure of the principal viscera 
— the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. 

The lungs were dark, in parts gorged with blood, the parenchyma 
disorganized and breaking down upon the slightest touch. The liver 
was about the color of burnt umber, its consistency greatly altered, 
breaking down readily under the finger, and in some instances 
advanced to a pulpy state. The gall-bladder was filled with bile 
about the color of plum-juice. The kidneys were very dark and 
very much disorganized. The spleen was more or less enlarged 
and pulpy. 

While these changes were evidently in great part post-mortem, 
they seemed disproportioned to the general evidences of decomposi- 
tion. In other words, these organs seemed to have undergone more 
rapid disorganization than would have been anticipated from the 
probable period of death as indicated by the general condition of 
the body. In the three remaining cases death had evidently taken 
place more recently, and the indications of post-mortem changes 
were slight. In two there was great engorgement of the lower and 
posterior portions of the lungs, seemingly of a purely passive char- 
acter — probably post-mortem — as there were no indications of 
inflammatory exudations in any case, and the lung tissue floated 
readily in water. In the remaining case the lungs were normal. 
The liver in these cases was but little altered in structure — its sub- 
stance, in two cases, tinged almost an orange color. The bile 
contained in the gall-bladder was of a dark-green color. The 
kidneys were highly congested, of a dark-red color, with but little 
alteration in consistency. In all the cases the spleen was more or 
less enlarged, and in two very much so. In none of the cases was 
the pleura or peritoneum found to be involved. The bladder was 
usually found distended with urine of a deep-red color, evidently 
colored with blood. Upon the application of heat and nitric acid, 
albumen was precipitated in abundance, three- fourths of the fluid 
being seemingly converted into coagulated albumen. Under the 
microscope, however, no tube-casts were discovered. In the only 
instance in which the brain was examined it presented a health}* 
appearance. The mucous membrane of the stomach, intestines, 
and bladder, examined in but one instance, as stated above, pre- 
sented ecchymosed spots here and there. 
2 



18 REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

Of all the organs, the spleen and kidneys have been most uni- 
formly involved in pathological changes. The congestion of the 
kidneys I am disposed to regard as the result of an attempt at 
elimination of the materies rnorbi through that organ — an effect, 
therefore, and not an essential part, of the malady. Should observa- 
tion, however, show that great congestion of the kidneys is a uni- 
form condition, the retention in the blood of the renal excretions 
might prove to be the proximate cause of death. Upon this point 
the history of the disease and the mode of death should throw some 
light. 

Upon the whole, the anatomico-pathological lesions scarcely seem 
sufficient to account for death. The essence of the disease, no 
doubt, is the empoisonment of the blood through the introduction 
of a specific poison, and the fatal result dependent upon those more 
subtle changes to be discovered only by the microscope, by chemical 
re-agentb, or perhaps defying all research. 

Respectfully, T. F. PREWITT. 



CB) 

St. Louis, October 25, 1868. 
Dr. J. W. Clemens, Health Officer: 

Sj r — I have the honor to report below the results of the histo- 
logical examinations of morbid specimens, which you submitted to 
me, of the organs of cattle affected with the so-called " Texas 
fever." ( The specimen of lung from cow No. I. does not belong 
to this class, the animal having died of traumatic pneumonia. The 
luno- was found in a state of splenisation ; capillaries gorged with 
blood ; no solid exudation in the infundibula or terminal bronchi. ) 

Cow No. II. — Aug. 16th; twelve hours after death; specimen 
somewhat altered by putrefaction. 

Livet Of a uniform grayish-brown color; peritoneal covering 

smooth and unchanged. Microscope showed secreting cells of liver 
more darkly granulated than normal, and almost devoid of fat 
globules. 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 19 

First stomach — No change perceptible. 

Second stomach — Mucous coat normal ; its epithelium separat- 
ing in large flakes, which are slate- colored, owing to pigmentation 
of the epithelial cells. 

Lung — Dark slate- colored ; very completely collapsed; con- 
tains almost no air. Not hypememic. Bronchioles contain some 
mucus abounding in cells. 

Heart — A little pale, very friable. Muscular structure almost 
destroyed by molecular degeneration. The primitive fibre is every- 
where found separating into fibrils and " sarcous elements." No 
fat. (See fig. 1.) 

Cow No. III. — Aug. 16th ; specimen very putrid, so that none 
of the organs were in a state of preservation suitable for examina- 
tion, except the 

Kidneys — These exhibited, aside from post-mortem alterations, 
traces of degeneration far advanced. Tubules so friable as to 
appear only in fragments ; secreting cells almost wholly destroyed ; 
the tubules filled with a molecular debris. 

Cow No. IV. — Aug. 19th ; twelve hours after death. 

Trachea — Normal appearance ; its walls covered with a light- 
brown mucus, containing ciliated epithelium and various kinds of 
mucous and formative cells in abundance, most of them in various 
stages of fatty degeneration. (See fig. 2.) 

Lungs — Fawn-colored, with a tinge of green; crepitates, but 
contains less air than normal, and is pretty firm under the finger. 
Section emits a dirty, bloody fluid which contains many cells ; the 
latter are mostly round or oval, nucleated, and have an average 
size of .009 — .012 millimetres diameter ; their contents are granu- 
lar. On scraping a section of lung, clumps of these cells are 
found in great numbers, frequently moulded in the shape of the 
infundibula. ( See fig. 4. ) 

Kidneys — Both alike; hypersemic, soft, friable; surface not 
granular ; serous covering normal, shining, and smooth. Glomeruli 
appear normal under the microscope, but rather large. Extensive 
granular ( molecular ) degeneration of the secreting cells ; the 
contents of all the urinary tubules, both convoluted and straight, in 



20 REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER 

the cortical portion as well as in the medullary, are found in various 
degrees of degeneration — slight in some, in others to such extent 
that the forms of the individual cells can no longer be recognized. 
Among this debris there was little or no fat (as I convinced myself 
by exhausting a large portion of the kidney with ether.) (See 
fig 3.) 

Urine — Dark-red ; contained no morphological elements but the 
kidney debris, as above described; cells far advanced in degenera- 
tion; and very few extremely small oil-globules. Contains albu- 
men. No red blood-corpuscles. 

Cow No. V. — Aug. 22d; pronounced by Prof. Gamgee to be 
well-marked Texas fever. Animal killed. 

Blood — No morphological abnormity detected. 

Urine — Clear, yellow. No morphological constituents except a 
very few casts of urinary tubules in cloudy swelling. Contains 
some little albumen. 

Fourth stomach — The mucous membrane of the folds shows 
many small ecchymoses, from the size of a pin-head to a quarter- 
inch in diameter. The blood is effused between the tubular glands. 

Liver — In general, normal. Presents yellow spots of various 
sizes under the peritoneal covering. A section of these spots shows 
the alteration to penetrate to a certain depth, embracing wedge- 
shaped pieces of tissue, the largest of which was of about the size 
of a hazel-nut. They are of a yellow, opaque color; the individual 
acini are still distinguishable with the aid of a lens — the central 
zone appearing yellowish- white or sometimes nearly white, the mid- 
dle and external zones buff or light-brown. The secreting cells 
of the central zone have disappeared, fat taking their place — i. e., 
they are no longer individually distinguishable ; those of the more 
external parts of the acinus are far advanced in fatty degeneration. 
These fatty spots are remarkable for their strict limitation to cir- 
cumscribed localities, but they seem to me to have no connection 
whatever with the disease in question. 

Spleen — Soft, very dark-red, full of blood. I can discover no 
structural change. The white spots seen externally are fatty depos- 
its in and below the serous covering. 



ON THE CATTLE DISEASE. 21 

Lung — Somewhat congested; no structural lesion. 

Heart — Endocardium of ventricles and valves shows slight ecchy- 
moses ; otherwise normal. Muscular fibres all and invariably show 
fibrillation to an extent otherwise unobserved in recent muscular 
structure, such as this is. The transverse striation at the same 
continues distinct. There are only traces of the molecular decay 
noted in Cow No. II. No separation into sarcous elements. 

You will understand that the limited number of cases observed 
will not permit me to draw general conclusions. At the same time 
I must regret that, even in these cases, not all organs were submit- 
ted for examination, but only such as seemed diseased on inspec- 
tion with the naked eye. The points to which I may venture to 
call attention, as appearing to me of more than merely accidental 
import, are the lesions of the kidneys and heart. The changes 
which the muscular structure of the heart had undergone in Cow 
No. II. , I have satisfied myself, were not due to pust-murtem alter- 
ation alone; and the microscopic appearances found in the heart of 
Cow No. V., which had been killed some time before her death 
was expected, confirmed me in this opinion. The well-marked 
catarrhal pneumonia of Cow No. IV. deserves remark. 

I am, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

J. G. BAUMGARTEN, M.D. 



EXPLANATION OF FIGURES 



Fig. 1. [Cow No. 2. Heart. R. V.] — Muscular fibres showing longitu- 
dinal striation, separating into fibrils, and ultimately into a molecular 
detritus. Magn. 300. 

Pig. 2. [Cow No. 4. Trachea.] Elements from the mucus covering the 
trachea. Magn. 330. 

Fig. 3. [Cow No. 4. Kidney.'] Fragments of uriniferous tubes; epithe- 
lial cells in various stages of granular degeneration, a — portion of a straight 
tube only slightly affected; I — isolated cells of the same, granulated; c d — 
convoluted and straight tubes, the contents of which are far progressed in 
degeneration. (The majority of tubes were found in this condition.) e e — 
portions of narrow communicating tubules ( naturally devoid of secreting 
cells), showing a great increase of nuclei. 

Fig. 4. [Cow No. 4. Lung.] Exudative plugs or casts, scraped from 
the cut surface of the lung. 










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